Adding Layer Files (.lyr, .lyrx) to QGIS

You need to convert the .lyr files to SLD. Then they should render fine in QGIS. Unfortunately, Converting ArcGIS layer style to Styled Layer Descriptor (SLD) file? requires that the conversion be done from within ArcGIS Desktop. Perhaps a classmate could help you by doing the conversion.

Another option, which I have not tested, would be to use this Arc2SLD converter. Perhaps another user can comment on that program's usability.

@ndawson, one of the core developers for QGIS, has created an experimental plugin for QGIS 3.2 or greater which could convert .lyr files:

https://github.com/nyalldawson/slyr

Esri's lyr format is binary, but the new lyrx format is readable and parseble.

We are working on a plugin to use *lyrx files in QGIS qlyrx
Feel free to contribute with issues/examples/qa/dev/etc.

If you have access to ArcGIS Pro, you can convert lyr file to the new lyrx format. I've published a util webpage that enables lyrx-qml conversion. It supports simple and hatch fills, outline properties and translates lyrx units to qml units. http://mindthemap.info/util/index.html